TikTok will soon launch brand-new safety features to protect teens and give parents more control over their children’s online activity.
The app will be building on its current components which protect teens on the app, as well as introducing a new feature to help teens build more balanced digital habits. Here’s a look inside the new updates.
Greater visibility for parents
In the new Family Paring section, parents will be able to check who their teen is following, who has followed them, and who they have blocked.
Time Away in the Family Pairing section
The new updates are pretty major changes that you’d definitely hate your parents for as a teen. Firstly, Time Away in Family Pairing means that parents can now block TikTok on their children’s phones during whatever time period they choose. That means no more late scrolling on a school night.
Wind Down
Wind Down will be a new feature to teach young people how to switch off at night. If a teen under 16 opens TikTok after 10pm, they’ll now be met with a Wind Down feature. The new screen will encourage the user to try out meditation exercises for a good night’s sleep instead of a night of scrolling.
'Teens, Social Media & You' campaign
TikTok is partnering with Media Smart to create a collection of creator and influencer-led videos and resources. The goal of the collaboration is to help people have positive conversations around a teen’s online environment. It’s aimed at adults who don’t have a great understanding of social media or its impact on teens. The campaign will launch in the UK, Germany, Sweden and France.
What are the current safety guidelines for teens on TikTok?
Currently, TikTok has split its teen users into 13-15 and 16-17 age groups with different restrictions. If you have a 13-15 account, it will be set to private by default. You can’t change this feature.
Additionally, others won’t be able to Duet, Stitch download your posts or reshare them to Stories.
16-17 accounts have a little more freedom, but still encourage internet safety. They default to private and do not allow message requests, but both of these features can be changed. You still won’t be able to see content restricted to 18 and over.
What will this mean for influencers and brands producing content for teens?
The new update will majorly impact any influencers who are producing content for teens. Stevie Johnson, Managing Director at Disrupt Marketing, has voiced his support for the new measures.
“TikTok’s new parental control updates are a really positive step in helping to manage screen time and promote healthier online habits for teens,” He told Hello Partner. “As someone who works in the social media and influencer marketing industry, but also as a parent, I fully support measures that encourage a more balanced digital experience.
“The long-term impact of excessive screen time and phone addiction is a genuine concern for many parents, and it’s encouraging to see platforms like TikTok taking responsibility in shaping a healthier online future.”
From an influencer marketing perspective, Johnson doesn’t see these changes “negatively impacting creators or brands targeting teen audiences in any significant way.” Brands who create great content will have “longevity far beyond the moment it’s posted,” and may only miss out on “fewer immediate windows for engagement.”
However, there could be some benefits to openly supporting the new measures. Johnson notes that creators who encourage these updates could “likely gain goodwill from their audiences,” particularly from “parents who are increasingly aware of the effects of social media on their children.”
“Embracing these changes as a step towards healthier digital consumption will position them positively in the long run.
“Ultimately, this is an evolution of how we engage with social media, and the industry will adapt, just as it always has.”
Meanwhile, TikTok will soon be banned for under-16s in Australia
While this new update could change the lives of millions of teens, a total ban on social media for under-16s will be coming into effect in the near future. Government officials explained in November 2024 that the process would take at least a year to put into effect.
The sentiment behind the ban was echoed loudly through the Australian government as the bill passed with 34 votes to 19 back in 2023.
However, that feeling isn’t shared across the globe. Scott Guthrie, Director of the Influencer Marketing Trade Body (IMTB), warned against driving social media “underground. He previously told Hello Partner: “Social media is a power for the solution not just that problem.
“Working with the advertising industry to promote best practices, teaching media literacy to children and their parents, encouraging social media platforms to take online harms more seriously for all users will be more effective.”
